Eagle River’s Shortridge in Hobey Baker conversation

Andrew Shortridge has a shot to become the fourth Alaskan — and the third from Eagle River — to be named a finalist for the top award in college hockey.

The Quinnipiac University junior goalie is 17-4-2 this season after leading the No. 5 ranked Bobcats to a 4-1 win over Yale on Saturday. Through March 2, the former Eagle River High star was first in NCAA Division I hockey in goals against average (1.39) and save percentage (.944) and fourth in winning percentage (.783).

Shortridge anchors a defense that has had two of the nation’s top players this season, with Chase Priskie the nation’s top scoring defenseman with 17 goals. In an interview with USCHO.com, Quinnipiac coach Rand Pecknold said he thinks both players are in the running for the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to the top player in college hockey.

“It’s a unique situation, Chase and ‘Shorty’ could both be in the top four or five in the Hobey right now,” Pecknold said. “They’ve certainly both been instrumental to our success.”

Shortridge would join Anchorage’s Matt Carle, Chugiak’s Brian Swanson and former Eagle River resident Ty Conklin as the only Alaskans named as finalists for the award. Carle became the only Alaskan to win the award in 2006; Swanson was a finalist in 1997 and 1999 for Colorado College; Conklin (who went to West High) was a Hobey Baker finalist in 2000 and 2001 for New Hampshire. All three went on to play in the NHL. Fans can vote for the award at hobeybaker.com. The top 10 finalists for the award will be named March 20.